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Asthma is a respiratory condition affecting the airways of the lungs, causing episodes of wheezing, breathlessness and chest tightness due to the narrowing of the airways.1 Asthma may affect people of all ages and can usually be managed through treatment such as medication use, managing lifestyle behaviours which can assist in avoiding and managing asthma attacks, and having a written asthma plan.2
In 2014-15, 10.8% of Australians (around 2.5 million people) reported having asthma, similar to 2011-12 (10.2%).
Of all people with asthma, 60.9% had consulted a GP in the last 12 months for their condition, 6.0% had consulted a specialist and 11.1% had consulted an other type of health professional. The most commonly reported types of other health professionals consulted were chemists or pharmacists for advice (5.9%), nurses (2.6%) and chiropractors (1.1%). Females were just as likely as males to have consulted a GP for their asthma in the last 12 months (61.6% and 60.0% respectively). Those in the 25-34 years age group were the least likely to have consulted a GP in the last 12 months for their asthma (43.1%).
Source(s): National Health Survey: Health Service Usage and Health Related Actions, 2014-15
Of all people with asthma who were currently employed or studying/at school, 16.7% had time off work or study/school in the last 12 months due to their condition.
Over 1 in 4 people (27.8%) with asthma reported that their asthma had been worse or out of control in the last 12 months (691,600 persons). Of these, 30.7%had visited a hospital or emergency department at least once in the last 12 months. Of all people with asthma, 32.1% reported that their condition had interfered with their daily activities at least once in the last 4 weeks.
It is recommended that people with asthma have a written action plan, to help recognise asthma triggers and patterns and advise them what steps to follow if their condition worsens. In 2014-15, just over 1 in 4 people with asthma (28.1%) had a written asthma action plan, an increase since 2011-12 (24%).
Those aged 0-14 were more likely than any other age group to have a written asthma action plan (57.3%), which has increased since 2011-12 (40.9%).
Source(s): National Health Survey: Health Service Usage and Health Related Actions, 2014-15
The most common medications taken in the last 2 weeks by people with asthma were salbutamol (17.2%), a medication to prevent airway obstruction, 'salmeterol and other drugs for obstructive airway diseases' (9.8%), and 'formoterol and other drugs for obstructive airway diseases' (5.8%).
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